Funeral for a New Jersey soldier killed in Afghanistan

Jeannette Gaston lays a rose on top of the casket of her son, Army Spc. Jonathan Batista, during funeral services at Our Lady of the Magnificat, on July 16, in Kinnelon, N.J.

Julio Cortez / AP

Andrew Gaston, center, cries during funeral services for his brother, Army Spc. Jonathan Batista, at Our Lady of the Magnificat, on July 16, in Kinnelon, N.J.

AP reports -- Jonathan Batista, a 22-year-old paratrooper, was on his first deployment to Afghanistan when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire in Kandahar province on July 8. Batista was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 321st Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

Julio Cortez / AP

Pallbearers carry the casket containing the body of Army Spc. Jonathan Batista during funeral services at Our Lady of the Magnificat, on July 16, in Kinnelon, N.J.